Outdoor Play and Learning Education and Professional Development
Education empowers people to make healthier choices.
The best practices (per GO NAPSACC) and the related resources in this section focus on educating staff and families about outdoor play and learning. Understanding the importance of outdoor play is a step towards adults make the choice to take children outside. Caretakers can also learn how to make outdoor play a rewarding and comfortable experience for children by making changes that fit program, family, and individual child needs.
Best Practices
Select each GO NAPSACC best practice goal below to find related resources.
"Teachers and staff receive professional development on outdoor play and learning 2 times per year or more."
Action Guide: For Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies
Summary: A guide for creating policies including rationale, steps for creating policies, and policy recommendations.
Source: Connecticut State Department of Education
Child and Family Development
Summary: Articles, online classes, upcoming virtual events, videos, and more. Early childhood topics include positive disciple, healthy growth and development, active play, etc., free of charge.
Source: Michigan State University Extension
Discovery, Outside. An Outside Play Tool for Early Childhood Educators
Summary: Interactive online tool that can be done individually or in groups. Designed to help early childhood educators reflect on their current practices and discover simple, meaningful ways to enhance outdoor play in their program.
Source: Outside Play
Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments
Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the appropriate assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Healthy Kids, Healthy Future
Summary: Under the section "Get Kids Moving," find children’s activities and adult resources such as curriculums for physical activity of children under 5, training for care givers, administrative resources, guides for adapting activities and spaces for children with disabilities, and more. Find a link to a yearlong calendar that includes simple physical activities for each day of the year, as well as a link to a resource booklet "Best Practices for Physical Activity" (pages 6-11) that gives some ideas for physical activity specific to each age.
Source: The Nemours Foundation
Learning Environments
Summary: Guidance on how to design indoor and outdoor spaces to support different kinds of learning.
Source: Head Start
Milestone Tracker Mobile App
Summary: Track children’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with this easy-to-use check list. Includes a video and flyers explaining how to use the app.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
MiRegistry Course Catalog
Summary: By entering “physical activity", "gross motor skills", or "outdoor learning" in the “Course Title, Competency, or Qualification” search box, professional development classes related to physical activity will appear. Click on “View Course Detail” for each class to read more.
Source: MiRegistry
Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children
Summary: Collection of tip sheets for nutrition and physical activity. Each tip sheet focuses on a specific topic and includes a practical application section to help apply the tips to a child care program for children ages 2 through 5 years old. See pages 63-68.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Pennington Nutrition Series: Physical Activity Guidelines for Children
Summary: Handout that can be shared with staff and families explaining physical activity guidelines, research, and facts for children.
Source: Louisiana State University Ag Center Research and Extension-Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Supporting Young Children’s Risky Play
Summary: Understand what "risky play" and how to achieve it safely to support the health and development of children.
Source: Boston University
"Professional development on outdoor play and learning covers a variety of topics to help ensure that children get the recommended amount of outdoor playtime each day."
Action Guide: For Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies
Summary: A guide for creating policies including rationale, steps for creating policies, and policy recommendations.
Source: Connecticut State Department of Education
Child and Family Development
Summary: Articles, online classes, upcoming virtual events, videos, and more. Early childhood topics include positive disciple, healthy growth and development, active play, etc., free of charge.
Source: Michigan State University Extension
Discovery, Outside. An Outside Play Tool for Early Childhood Educators
Summary: Interactive online tool that can be done individually or in groups. Designed to help early childhood educators reflect on their current practices and discover simple, meaningful ways to enhance outdoor play in their program.
Source: Outside Play
Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments
Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the appropriate assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Healthy Kids, Healthy Future
Summary: Under the section "Get Kids Moving," find children’s activities and adult resources such as curriculums for physical activity of children under 5, training for care givers, administrative resources, guides for adapting activities and spaces for children with disabilities, and more. Find a link to a yearlong calendar that includes simple physical activities for each day of the year, as well as a link to a resource booklet "Best Practices for Physical Activity" (pages 6-11) that gives some ideas for physical activity specific to each age.
Source: The Nemours Foundation
Learning Environments
Summary: Guidance on how to design indoor and outdoor spaces to support different kinds of learning.
Source: Head Start
Milestone Tracker Mobile App
Summary: Track children’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with this easy-to-use check list. Includes a video and flyers explaining how to use the app.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
MiRegistry Course Catalog
Summary: By entering “physical activity", "gross motor skills", or "outdoor learning" in the “Course Title, Competency, or Qualification” search box, professional development classes related to physical activity will appear. Click on “View Course Detail” for each class to read more.
Source: MiRegistry
Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children
Summary: Collection of tip sheets for nutrition and physical activity. Each tip sheet focuses on a specific topic and includes a practical application section to help apply the tips to a child care program for children ages 2 through 5 years old. See pages 63-68.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Pennington Nutrition Series: Physical Activity Guidelines for Children
Summary: Handout that can be shared with staff and families explaining physical activity guidelines, research, and facts for children.
Source: Louisiana State University Ag Center Research and Extension-Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Supporting Young Children’s Risky Play
Summary: Understand what "risky play" and how to achieve it safely to support the health and development of children.
Source: Boston University
"Professional development on outdoor play and learning covers the recommended amount of outdoor play time for children, ways to encourage children’s physical activity outdoors and ways to promote outdoor play and learning to families."
Action Guide: For Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies
Summary: A guide for creating policies including rationale, steps for creating policies, and policy recommendations.
Source: Connecticut State Department of Education
Child and Family Development
Summary: Articles, online classes, upcoming virtual events, videos, and more. Early childhood topics include positive disciple, healthy growth and development, active play, etc., free of charge.
Source: Michigan State University Extension
Discovery, Outside. An Outside Play Tool for Early Childhood Educators
Summary: Interactive online tool that can be done individually or in groups. Designed to help early childhood educators reflect on their current practices and discover simple, meaningful ways to enhance outdoor play in their program.
Source: Outside Play
Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments
Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the appropriate assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Healthy Kids, Healthy Future
Summary: Under the section "Get Kids Moving," find children’s activities and adult resources such as curriculums for physical activity of children under 5, training for care givers, administrative resources, guides for adapting activities and spaces for children with disabilities, and more. Find a link to a yearlong calendar that includes simple physical activities for each day of the year, as well as a link to a resource booklet "Best Practices for Physical Activity" (pages 6-11) that gives some ideas for physical activity specific to each age.
Source: The Nemours Foundation
Learning Environments
Summary: Guidance on how to design indoor and outdoor spaces to support different kinds of learning.
Source: Head Start
Milestone Tracker Mobile App
Summary: Track children’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with this easy-to-use check list. Includes a video and flyers explaining how to use the app.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
MiRegistry Course Catalog
Summary: By entering “physical activity", "gross motor skills", or "outdoor learning" in the “Course Title, Competency, or Qualification” search box, professional development classes related to physical activity will appear. Click on “View Course Detail” for each class to read more.
Source: MiRegistry
Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children
Summary: Collection of tip sheets for nutrition and physical activity. Each tip sheet focuses on a specific topic and includes a practical application section to help apply the tips to a child care program for children ages 2 through 5 years old. See pages 63-68.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Pennington Nutrition Series: Physical Activity Guidelines for Children
Summary: Handout that can be shared with staff and families explaining physical activity guidelines, research, and facts for children.
Source: Louisiana State University Ag Center Research and Extension-Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Supporting Young Children’s Risky Play
Summary: Understand what "risky play" and how to achieve it safely to support the health and development of children.
Source: Boston University
"Families are offered education on outdoor play and learning 2 times per year or more."
Child and Family Development
Summary: Articles, online classes, upcoming virtual events, videos, and more. Early childhood topics include positive disciple, healthy growth and development, active play, etc., free of charge.
Source: Michigan State University Extension
Go Play Outside! An Outside Play Tool for Parents & Caregivers
Summary: Interactive online tool that can be done individually or in groups. Designed to help parents reflect on their current practices and discover simple, meaningful ways to enhance outdoor play for their children.
Source: Outside Play
Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments
Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the appropriate assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Healthy Kids, Healthy Future
Summary: Under the section "Get Kids Moving," find children’s activities and adult resources such as curriculums for physical activity of children under 5, training for care givers, administrative resources, guides for adapting activities and spaces for children with disabilities, and more. Find a link to a yearlong calendar that includes simple physical activities for each day of the year, as well as a link to a resource booklet "Best Practices for Physical Activity" (pages 6-11) that gives some ideas for physical activity specific to each age.
Source: The Nemours Foundation
Milestone Tracker Mobile App
Summary: Track children’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with this easy-to-use check list. Includes a video and flyers explaining how to use the app.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Pennington Nutrition Series: Physical Activity Guidelines for Children
Summary: Handout that can be shared with staff and families explaining physical activity guidelines, research, and facts for children.
Source: Louisiana State University Ag Center Research and Extension-Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Supporting Young Children’s Risky Play
Summary: Understand what "risky play" and how to achieve it safely to support the health and development of children.
Source: Boston University
"Education for families on outdoor play and learning includes a variety of topics to help ensure that children get the recommended amount of outdoor playtime each day."
Child and Family Development
Summary: Articles, online classes, upcoming virtual events, videos, and more. Early childhood topics include positive disciple, healthy growth and development, active play, etc., free of charge.
Source: Michigan State University Extension
Go Play Outside! An Outside Play Tool for Parents & Caregivers
Summary: Interactive online tool that can be done individually or in groups. Designed to help parents reflect on their current practices and discover simple, meaningful ways to enhance outdoor play for their children.
Source: Outside Play
Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments
Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the appropriate assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Healthy Kids, Healthy Future
Summary: Under the section "Get Kids Moving," find children’s activities and adult resources such as curriculums for physical activity of children under 5, training for care givers, administrative resources, guides for adapting activities and spaces for children with disabilities, and more. Find a link to a yearlong calendar that includes simple physical activities for each day of the year, as well as a link to a resource booklet "Best Practices for Physical Activity" (pages 6-11) that gives some ideas for physical activity specific to each age.
Source: The Nemours Foundation
Milestone Tracker Mobile App
Summary: Track children’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with this easy-to-use check list. Includes a video and flyers explaining how to use the app.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Pennington Nutrition Series: Physical Activity Guidelines for Children
Summary: Handout that can be shared with staff and families explaining physical activity guidelines, research, and facts for children.
Source: Louisiana State University Ag Center Research and Extension-Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Supporting Young Children’s Risky Play
Summary: Understand what "risky play" and how to achieve it safely to support the health and development of children.
Source: Boston University
"Education for families on outdoor play and learning includes the recommended amount of outdoor play time for children, ways to encourage children’s physical activity outdoors, and the program’s policy on outdoor play and learning."
Child and Family Development
Summary: Articles, online classes, upcoming virtual events, videos, and more. Early childhood topics include positive disciple, healthy growth and development, active play, etc., free of charge.
Source: Michigan State University Extension
Go Play Outside! An Outside Play Tool for Parents & Caregivers
Summary: Interactive online tool that can be done individually or in groups. Designed to help parents reflect on their current practices and discover simple, meaningful ways to enhance outdoor play for their children.
Source: Outside Play
Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments
Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the appropriate assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Healthy Kids, Healthy Future
Summary: Under the section "Get Kids Moving," find children’s activities and adult resources such as curriculums for physical activity of children under 5, training for care givers, administrative resources, guides for adapting activities and spaces for children with disabilities, and more. Find a link to a yearlong calendar that includes simple physical activities for each day of the year, as well as a link to a resource booklet "Best Practices for Physical Activity" (pages 6-11) that gives some ideas for physical activity specific to each age.
Source: The Nemours Foundation
Milestone Tracker Mobile App
Summary: Track children’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with this easy-to-use check list. Includes a video and flyers explaining how to use the app.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Pennington Nutrition Series: Physical Activity Guidelines for Children
Summary: Handout that can be shared with staff and families explaining physical activity guidelines, research, and facts for children.
Source: Louisiana State University Ag Center Research and Extension-Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Supporting Young Children’s Risky Play
Summary: Understand what "risky play" and how to achieve it safely to support the health and development of children.
Source: Boston University
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